(Honolulu)- The Queen’s Medical Center (QMC) has received a $382,000 grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). The grant will support the Hāna Ola Project, which is a partnership between Ma Ka Hāna Ka ‘Ike and QMC to reduce the burden of obesity and other cardiovascular disease risk factors among Native Hawaiians.

The project will build community capacity to revitalize health, nutrition and wellbeing through education, physical activity and culturally relevant, community-based programs including lo‘i restoration, organic agriculture, kūpuna assisted living, and ku‘i (the cultural practice of pounding kalo or taro into pa‘i ‘ai and poi).

According to a 2013 assessment by the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, cardiometabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease occur more commonly in Native Hawaiians. The Hāna Ola Project is based on evidence that community engagement in culturally grounded activities that incorporate traditional values and social connectedness positively impact health and well-being.

“At Ma Ka Hāna Ka ‘Ike, we have observed real change in Hāna’s health over the years through our partnership with OHA and The Queen’s Medical Center,” said Rick Rutiz, Executive Director of the nonprofit organization. “Changes like keiki falling in love with eating real food to high school students and community members revitalizing their ‘āina-based lifestyles to reconnect with their culture and simultaneously build a healthy community. We believe that by addressing the issue of health and wellbeing in a holistic way we are making systemic change. We are grateful for OHA’s support to impact health in this way in our community.”

Under the direction of nine trustees elected statewide, OHA’s mission is to mālama (protect) Hawaii’s people, environmental resources and OHA’s assets toward ensuring the perpetuation of the culture, the enhancement of lifestyle and the protection of entitlements of Native Hawaiians, while enabling the building of a strong and healthy Hawaiian people and nation, recognized nationally and internationally.

“Our collaboration with Ma Ka Hāna Ka ‘Ike, a trusted and successful non-profit in Hāna, helps us work more effectively on our shared goal of building community resilience and improving the health of Native Hawaiians throughout the state,” said Todd Seto, M.D., Medical Director of the Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation.

The Queen’s Medical Center was founded in 1859 by Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV to provide in perpetuity quality health care services to improve the well­being of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii. It is currently the largest private hospital in Hawaii and leading medical referral center in the Pacific Basin. For more information about The Queen’s Medical Center, please visit www.queens.org.